NIKKI-SHELL

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We hope you all have a wonderful time tonight whatever your plans.  We are!!

Afternoon tea

Going in the mail today

and inside

Christmas cake.  I know they should have been sent before Christmas but never mind, they're off in the mail today.  I hope you all enjoy them girls!

(sorry for the crappy photos, the light in my house was terrible when i took them.)

Unexpected gift

I haven't posted in a while have i?  The days seem to have merged into one lately and i can't remember which day of the week it is!  I even forgot Self Portrait Tuesday!!  I wasn't feeing very Christmassy this year, i think it was a combination of just having Esme, the weather, my sewing machine packing up and all this cafe business to sort out.  We had a great Christmas day though, it was so great to see Mia play with her new toys.  We had a friend from the UK (who now lives in Sydney) staying with us and then had friends over in the evening who have just moved here from Canada.  Over the past week we've baked gingersnaps, muffins (for breakfast on Christmas morning) and Strawberry Cheesecake.  We ate a delicious lunch on Christmas day prepared by Kev, Kev and Richard have drank 12 bottles of red wine between them (and they're feeling it) and we ate lots of salty, greasy snacks too and now i feel i need to detox!!  I want to take down the tree and have a clean out too, i feel all cluttered.

Yesterday Richard and i went to see Harry Potter at the cinema, it was fantastic and think i'll be going to see it again, i may have to take Esme with me though, she screamed the place down after i left and Kev was very stressed when we returned, now he knows what it's like!!

Anyway, onto the unexpected gift.  I was having a snooze this afternoon (as you do) and the parcel guy knocked on the door.  Of course i assumed it would be for Kev because, well, it usually is.  Imagine my suprise when he came into the bedroom and handed my a big box!!  Inside was this bunny from Robyn who i've formed a great friendship with, it's a pity we live so far apart.

She also sent Esme a cute little outfit and a fantastic key fob for me

Everything was so beautifully wrapped but of course i didn't manage to get a pic before i tore into it!  The generosity of people i have never met amazes me.  Thankyou so much Robyn, you're a star.

I have received more goodies in the mail too, i'll tell you all about that in the next few days.

Afternoon tea part 4

So, i was just making myself a pot of tea when there was a knock at the door.  The only person that knocks (rather than ringing the doorbell) is the parcel guy. A PARCEL??!!  Yippeee!  I ran to the door to find this:

and inside:

and wrapped inside the lovely green paper was something for me to enjoy with my tea:

Mmmm, chocolate and pistachio biscotti from Di just in time.  I'm lucky because i got to try this on Friday night when i met up with Di.  Thank Di! xx

On the subject of baking, i'm beginning to think Mia's obsession is getting a little out of control.  Every morning she screams 'cake' at the top of her lungs and gets out everything needed to make them.  I think she went a little too far this morning:

yep, that's flour ALL OVER my kitchen floor!

Bits and pieces and self portrait tuesday

A few random things today.  First, the stocking i received from Kali

She also sent a cute knitted bear, some Christmas story books and some butterflies to stick on the window.  I didn't get a chance to photograph them because as you can see i only just about managed this photo before they were whisked away.  Thanks so much Kali.xx

I did a bit of painting this week and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

They're for sale in my Etsy shop as are sets of the collector's bird cards i've used in the paintings.

And one of Mia's latest obsessions, baking (also my SPT, can you see me?)

A few of her other latest obsessions are washing her hands and squeezing orange juice in the juicer at the cafe.

Afternoon tea part 3

From Alison

Lemon curd and mint shortbread.  I enjoyed the shortbread dipped in the lemon curd with my vanilla tea from here where my friends hubby works.  He sent me some delicious samples to try for the new bar and i'm thoroughly enjoying them!  I've been enjoying the remaining lemon curd on my toast in the mornings.  Thanks Alison.

Talking of the bar, things are coming along and we hope to have all the legal stuff done and dusted soon.  We've also decided on a name, Nectar Lounge, like it?  We do.

Backyard Leaves

A nice little package arrived for me yesterday from Hillary containing my beautiful Backyard Leaves scarf that she so kindly knit for me for the SYNO swap.

As you can probably tell by the singlet/vest it's far too warm to be wearing a scarf at the moment in Melbourne.  Roll on Winter!

Hillary also sent some goodies

A cute hat for Esme, gorgeous paperclips and some yummy chocolate truffles (which had melted a little but an hour in the fridge and they tasted just fine!)

Thanks Hillary and thanks to Jac and Kris for organising this swap.

Meet Steve

This is Steve

 

He likes to climb trees, and play on the swing.

Pattern from Denyse Schmidt's 'Quilts'.  He was easy to make although next time i make him i'll have the seams on his legs, arms and tail on the inside to make him look tidier.

Here's another softie i made a while back for Mia's friend Romy for her 2nd birthday.  I was in a rush to get it wrapped and forgot to photograph it.  Well yesterday we went to Romy's for a playdate and guess who was sitting on the sofa?

Hehe! Isn't it funny?  I realised after making it that it looks like one of those neck pillows.

Photoart and Self Portrait Day

Reflective surface #2

milkshake maker

Go check out other Self-Portraits over on the Self Portrait Tuesday blog and Flickr

CRAP!

My poor sewing machine is sick! The dog feed is buggered, it won't lift up. Arrgghhhhh!!!!!  I have so much sewing i need to do, Christmas presents, an order that should have been finished ages ago, clothes for the girls.  What am i going to do?  Well, it looks like i'm going to have to take it to be fixed, not easy when you have 2 kids, no car and your husband works all week. 

Oh yeah and to top it all off my guarantee ran out about 6 weeks ago, BLOODY TYPICAL!  Somehow i don't think paracetamol will work, i wish it would it'd be much cheaper.  And to top it off, my lovely new Janome overlocker isn't working as it should either so that's going back to where i bought it to be checked over.  I wonder what's going to go next?  They say it comes in 3's, maybe my Kitchenaid?  the washing machine? (god no!), the fridge?, the computer?

So, if you're waiting for anything (sewn wise) from me then i'm sorry but you're going to have to wait a little longer.

CRAP CRAP CRAP!

BTW-thanks for all your well wishes and suggestions for the bar.  We really like some of the names but haven't quite made a decision yet, we'll let you know when we do.  Here's a pic of what the place looks like at the moment.